A local’s guide to the storied city
As someone who grew up in Hong Kong, there are many things I have taken for granted. The hiking trails just minutes from the city, dim sum for breakfast, local noodle shops on every corner, the ease of getting around with the MTR, and the nostalgic ring of the ding ding… then there are the world-class restaurants and cocktail bars, though I still end up at my all-time favourites whenever I’m home.
So here it is: a 48-hour guide of my favourite places to eat, drink and stay in Hong Kong. It’s by no means an exhaustive list, but these are no doubt the places you’ll find me in.
Day 1
Morning
Check into the iconic Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, with an excellent location in the heart of Central and direct access to the IFC Mall, which means the main locations in the city are just walking distance away.
Tip: Make sure to choose a room with Victoria Harbour Views and visit the hotels’s MICHELIN Starred restaurants and 50 Best Bar, Argo.
First thing first: coffee. Take the Central–Mid-Levels escalator, the longest escalator in the world, to Hollywood Road, turn right and walk west for about five minutes to Man Mo Temple, one of the oldest temples in Hong Kong dedicated to two deities, the God of Literature and the God of Martial Arts.
Continue walking to Cat Street, where you will find a pedestrian street dotted with antique shops and stalls selling everything from ancient coins, jade gems to Qing Dynasty vases. While the street is great for souvenir shopping, Halfway Coffee is the reason why I come here. Go for their lattes served in vintage porcelain cups.
If you come here around lunch time, book a table at Mora by Vicky Lau, the chef-owner behind two- MICHELIN-starred Tate Dining Room (also on Hollywood Road).
Afternoon
No visit to Hong Kong is complete without dim sum. The good news is, you are in Central, which is the home of Lin Heung Tea House, a legendary dim sum restaurant on Wellington Street that has been around for more than a century. Here, you don’t order dim sum from a waiter but grab whatever that’s available from a trolley piled with bamboo steamers – the old-school way. You must get the siu mai (shrimp and pork dumpling), har gau (shrimp dumplings), and chicken feet, if you are feeling adventurous.
After a hearty dim sum lunch, it’s time to digest and burn off the calories with a hike to The Peak. There are different hiking routes to the peak, but my favourite route is through the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator, so I can make a pit stop at Bakehouse on Staunton Street for the freshly baked Portuguese-style sourdough egg tart. Your starting point is Old Peak Road, and from there it takes about 30 minutes to reach The Peak. While you’re at the Peak, pop by Messina for a scoop of some of the best gelato in town. Make sure to try the special flavours such as the ‘Tofu Fa’ (my favourite).
Evening
For dinner, make sure to make a booking at Wing, one of the most sought-after tables in town. Chef-owner Vicky Cheung started his career in Canada, where he grew up, and moved back to Hong Kong to find his roots and dig deep into Chinese ingredients, specifically dried seafood.
Known for Chef Vicky’s boundary-less approach to Chinese cuisine, Wing takes classic dishes to the next level; think melt-in-the-mouth sea cucumber enveloped in a hollow spring roll, dry-aged crispy chicken that took 80 trials to perfect, beef brisket noodle served with homemade noodles, along with a rich, deeply aromatic broth.
Hong Kong is home to some of the best bars in the world, so if you are up for a night cap, the options are endless. I always make a stop at Bar Leone (just crowned No.1 World’s 50 Best Bars 2025), The Savoury Project, and The Aubrey. Other must-visits: nostalgic Hong Kong-inspired cocktails at Kinsman, Irish Coffee and burger at The Diplomat, fermentation and sustainability-forward drinks at Penicillin, and Mezcal cocktails at COA.
Day 2
Morning
Take the MTR to Prince Edward, it may seem random at first but once you see the queue outside Australia Dairy Company, you will understand why. Don’t be surprised if the waiter asks you to share a table with strangers, it’s part of the Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng culture. The breakfast is simple: scrambled eggs (probably one of the best you’ll ever have), toast with butter, marconi soup with sliced ham. Make sure to order the steamed milk pudding with egg white, a silky smooth, subtly sweet speciality that is served either cold or warm.
After breakfast, take the MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui for a stroll along the Victoria Harbour, and you’ll pass by plenty of shopping opportunities at K11 and Harbour City; the former is best for local brands and hidden gems, while the latter is a haven for designer brands.
From there, there’s only one thing to do—you take the Star Ferry to Central. Operating since 1888, the Star Ferry is an iconic public transport synonymous with Hong Kong (together with the ding ding). It’s a memory that many Hong Kongers from my generation grew up with. Here, you get the best views of Victoria Harbour at sea level, and it takes only 10 minutes to get to the opposite side.
Afternoon
Back on Hong Kong Island, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to lunch options. If you stick to Central, my recommendation is Yat Lok, the famous family-run, One-MICHELIN-Starred restaurant known for its juicy, glistening roast goose. I always go for the whole goose leg as it’s the most tender, and with a bowl of lai fun noodle with clear soup. Their char siu and pork belly are very tasty as well.
My other go-to for lunch is Sister Wah in Tin Hau, a small, hole-in-the-wall shop that serves the best beef noodles. You can choose different parts of the fresh local beef, including the tendon, tripe and brisket, to go with a rice or egg noodle of your choice. The clear broth is cooked with over 10 different herbs and spices, so it’s incredibly flavourful and comforting. Expect to queue and sit with strangers.
For apéritif, head to the newly opened Terrace Boulud by Mandarin Oriental, Chef Daniel Boulud’s Hong Kong debut featuring an expansive rooftop terrace with spectacular views of Victoria Harbour.
Evening
If you are, like me, a fan of Sichuan food, Grand Majestic Sichuan by Black Sheep Restaurants will not disappoint. To start, I like a mix of cold and hot appetisers, from chilled jellyfish and mouthwatering chicken to chilli oil pork wontons. For mains, don’t miss the mapo tofu and ‘Fish Sea of Chillis’, though there are plenty of delicious, non-spicy options like the tangerine beef and sweet and sour pork. To finish, the osmanthus ice jelly is a refreshing way to cool it all down.
If you still have room for dessert, walk up to Old Bailey Street for Japanese shaved ice at SHARI SHARI Kagigori. You won’t regret it.
Image credit: Supplied/Pinterest
A journalist by trade, Pearl has over a decade of experience leading food and travel publications in Asia and the Middle East. She held Editor positions at Tatler Hong Kong and the MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau, and led the editorial team of Lifestyle Asia Bangkok as the Managing Editor. She moved to Dubai in 2022 to launch the MICHELIN Guide in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. She was part of the launching team of the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East in 2024 and the emcee for Top Table Gulfood 2024, hosting world-class chefs from around the world. In 2024-2025, she worked at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi for as Content Specialist.
